SOCS2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: SOCS2 mRNA and protein were activated in pHBV1.3-transfected cells but not in pBlue-SK-transfected cells, enhanced in HepG2.2.15 cells but not in HepG2 cells (Fig. 4F), and stimulated in pHBV1.3-transfected HepG2 cells in a time-dependent manner (Fig. 4G), demonstrating that HBV stimulates SOCS2 expression in human hepatoma cells.